RECOMMENDED READS

Welcome to our literary circle, in which San Diegans pass the (printed) word on books

Christin Lozano

Job: Youth Services Librarian, Cardiffby-the-sea Branch, San Diego County Library

She recommends: “Closer to Nowhere” by Ellen Hopkins (G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 2020; 405 pages)

Why? Ellen Hopkins’ “Closer to Nowhere” is a page-turning novel for young readers that explores complex family dynamics through 12-year-old cousins Hannah and Cal. Hannah is enjoying her life in sunny San Diego until her aunt dies and her cousin Cal is sent to live with her and her parents. This adjustment proves challenging for everyone, and Hannah begins to blame Cal for the new tensions in the house. Told in verse, this is a hopeful story to share with middle-grade readers who are navigating their own challenges. I especially enjoyed the author’s realistic portrayal of family life and watching these cousins grow in their capacity to listen, forgive and communicate amid a difficult situation. I recommend “Closer to Nowhere” to families to read together, as it will certainly spark meaningful conversations.

James Jensen

Job: Local Author Coordinator, Warwick’s

He recommends: “Squeeze Me” by Carl Hiaasen (Knopf, 2020; 316 pages)

Why? Nobody writes “Florida Crazy” like Carl Hiaasen. If a news headline begins with, “Florida man ...,” you can bet that it’s already been covered in a Hiaasen novel. However, no matter how madcap of a scenario he presents, you can’t help but believe it could really happen. Take “Squeeze Me,” the latest drive through wacky town. It’s present day, and the current president (code named Mastodon) is an overweight, tanning-bed-obsessed narcissist who has a supermodel wife who spends most of her time avoiding his touch. Sound familiar? Now, throw in a drug-addled invasive Burmese python, a ex-con wildlife wrangler on the run from a one-armed poacher, and a former senator turned off-the-grid environmental warrior, and you have a recipe for one heck of a wild ride. Hiaasen’s satire is razor sharp, and his outlandish characters are so close to reality that you may find yourself laughing and then shaking your head in disgust. So grab an ice-cold mojito, turn off the news, log out of your social media, and let yourself laugh at the madness of it all.